By Nathan Rode and PBR Staff

The year 2017 is upon us, so we’re looking ahead to stories to watch. Each state in Prep Baseball Report’s coverage area has submitted a top storyline for the year ahead, but a repeating theme is pitch counts. The National Federation of State High School Associations revised its pitching policy last summer, mandating that each member association develop its own pitching restriction based on the number of pitches thrown during a game to give pitchers a required rest period between appearances.

For other stories to follow, check out this week’s Hotlist below.

CO: Cherokee Trail Has Horse To Repeat
After Cherokee Trail won the 5A Title last year, if you would have asked if the Cougars had a chance to repeat, most would have said yes—if 2017 LHP Conner Nantkes (Washington State) didn’t have to move to Washington because of his dad’s job. It was common knowledge during the 2016 championship run that he was facing a tough decision, but with his dad’s blessing, Nantkes will finish his senior year in Colorado. He’ll have plenty of support behind him with returning senior starters in OF Eric Cox (Metropolitan State University of Denver), 3B Nick Perez and SS Michael Morris, plus junior SS Blake Mackintosh. With that group, the Cougars will be favorites to repeat in 2017.